Disk, Herniated

Opioid overdose suppresses brainstem respiratory circuits, causes apnea, and may result in death. Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) at the cervical spinal cord facilitated motor activity in rodents and humans, and we hypothesized that EES of the cervical spinal cord could antagonize opioid-induced respiratory depression in humans. In this study, we will stimulate the spinal cord during surgery and assess its effects on respiratory function in human patients.